Café & Drinks

1. Bir stəkan çay, xahiş edirəm

   Bir stə-kan çay, xa-hiş e-di-rəm

   One glass of tea, please

   Usage

   Ordering tea, the most popular drink in Azerbaijan

   Grammar Note

   Azerbaijan drinks tea in tulip-shaped "armudu" glasses. Sugar cubes or jam (mürəbbə) are often placed under the tongue while sipping.

2. Ayran varmı?

   Ay-ran var-mı?

   Do you have ayran?

   Usage

   Asking if they serve ayran, a traditional chilled yogurt drink

   Grammar Note

   "Ayran" is shared across Turkic cultures. Made from yogurt, water, and salt. Very popular in summer heat.

3. Soyuq su gətirin, xahiş edirəm

   So-yuq su gə-ti-rin, xa-hiş e-di-rəm

   Please bring cold water

   Usage

   Requesting cold water at a restaurant or café

   Grammar Note

   "Gətirmək" cognate with Turkish "getirmek". "Xahiş edirəm" (please) from Persian "xᵛāheš" — more formal than just "zəhmət olmasa".

4. Narlı şərab istəyirəm

   Nar-lı şə-rab is-tə-yi-rəm

   I want pomegranate wine

   Usage

   Ordering pomegranate wine, a specialty of Azerbaijan

   Grammar Note

   "Nar" (pomegranate) is a symbol of Azerbaijan. Goychay city is famed for pomegranates; pomegranate wine is a popular souvenir.

5. Qəhvə necə hazırlanır?

   Qəh-və ne-cə ha-zır-la-nır?

   How is the coffee prepared?

   Usage

   Asking how the coffee is made or what type is available

   Grammar Note

   "Qəhvə" and Turkish "kahve" both derive from Arabic "qahwa". Tea dominates over coffee in Azerbaijan, but cafes offer espresso-based drinks.

6. Doşab nədir?

   Do-şab nə-dir?

   What is doshab?

   Usage

   Asking about doshab, Azerbaijan's traditional concentrated fruit syrup

   Grammar Note

   "Doşab" from Persian "dūshāb" (grape honey). Diluted as a drink or used as a sweetener in cooking. A traditional Azerbaijani food product.

7. Pivə içmirəm

   Pi-və iç-mi-rəm

   I don't drink beer

   Usage

   Declining beer when offered, useful for Muslim travelers

   Grammar Note

   Negation inserts "-mir/-mır" after the verb stem. Azerbaijan is Muslim-majority but alcohol is socially accepted and widely available.

8. Nar şirəsi verin

   Nar şi-rə-si ve-rin

   Give me pomegranate juice

   Usage

   Ordering fresh pomegranate juice, a popular drink in Azerbaijan

   Grammar Note

   "Şirə" from Persian "shīra" (juice, essence). Fresh pomegranate juice at markets is best during harvest season (Oct–Nov).

9. Duz olmadan ayran istəyirəm

   Duz ol-ma-dan ay-ran is-tə-yi-rəm

   I want ayran without salt

   Usage

   Requesting unsalted (plain) ayran

   Grammar Note

   "Olmadan" is the negative adverbial form of "olmaq" (to be), meaning "without". Identical to Turkish "olmadan".

10. Bu içki nədir?

    Bu iç-ki nə-dir?

    What is this drink?

    Usage

    Asking about an unfamiliar drink you've been offered

    Grammar Note

    "İçki" is formed from verb stem "iç-" (drink) + "-ki" suffix. Can specifically refer to alcoholic beverages in context.

11. Buzsuz

    No ice

    Usage

    Refuse ice when ordering; "buz" is ice and "-suz" is the without-suffix

12. Qaynar su

    Hot (boiled) water

    Usage

    Ask for boiling-hot water; "isti su" is merely warm, so show "qaynar" when you need it boiled

13. Mineral su

    Mineral water

    Usage

    Ask for bottled water; sparkling is "qazlı" and still is "qazsız". Naming the local brands "Badamlı" or "Sirab" always works

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